Crime Prevention

Amber Alert

Program Guidelines

AMBER Alert may be activated only by law enforcement agencies. AMBER Alert is intended only for the most serious, time-critical child abduction cases. The following situations meet AMBER Alert criteria:

The child is the age of 17 or under.

A child is kidnapped off the street.

A child is kidnapped from home.

A vehicle is stolen or carjacked and a child was left inside the vehicle.

A child is reported missing, there is evidence of foul play, and the police believe the child was kidnapped.

The following situations do not meet AMBER Alert criteria:

Missing children who have run away from home.

Missing children involved in child custody disputes.

Police searches for criminals.

You Can Help

Please sign up for Amber Alerts, using one of the below listed methods.

AOL Sign up to receive AMBER Alerts through your AOL Alerts.

Facebook Sign up to receive AMBER Alerts in your Facebook News Feed. Simply to go to the AMBER Alert Facebook page at facebook.com/amberalert and "Like" your state under the "AMBER Pages" tab.

iPhone App Mobile application from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) is designed to help in the search for and safe recovery of missing children.

Wireless Emergency Alerts Confirm with your mobile device carrier to see if Wireless Emergency Alerts, including Amber Alerts, are available in your area and your device is capable of receiving the alerts. Learn more.

If you witness a child abduction, contact your local law enforcement agency or call 911 immediately. Provide information on the location of the abduction and a description of the victim, suspect and/or any vehicle involved.

If you hear an AMBER Alert, watch for the child, suspect, and/or the vehicle described in the alert. Immediately report any sightings by calling 911 or the phone number included on the alert. (Do not call 911 to request information about the abduction.)

History of Amber Alert

The Amber Plan was originally started in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 1996 after the abduction and murder of a nine year old girl, Amber Hagerman. This emergency broadcast response alert is a statewide innovative program that partners the state’s law enforcement community, media broadcasting agencies, and the public in locating abducted children. It provides the public with immediate and up-to-date information about child abduction via widespread media broadcasts and solicits the public’s help in the safe and swift return of the child.

Speed is essential in distributing child kidnapping information, as the first few hours after abduction are the most critical. The AMBER Alert will encourage the public to look for the kidnapped child and to call the police immediately if they have any information to assist in the child’s safe recovery.

The quick and repeated AMBER Alert coverage on multiple media outlets will not only raise public awareness about the kidnapping, but will encourage the suspect to immediately release the child for fear of being caught.